2023-08-07 20:26:58
August is a special month for moongazers: our moon will come close to the earth twice this month and illuminate the night sky in full size – provided the clouds do not block the view. Due to the currently dense cloud cover over Germany, only a few will have had the chance to admire the first full moon in the night sky in the Sagittarius constellation last Tuesday evening. But on Thursday, August 31, a second chance presents itself. Then the moon appears again in its fully illuminated glory, this time in the constellation Aquarius. The exact full moon phase is reached at 3:36 am.
The reason for this double event: The time between two consecutive identical lunar cycles – for example from full moon to full moon – is around 29.5 days. However, since August has 31 days, a second full moon can be observed in this month. Another special feature: As on August 1st, the moon will come particularly close to Earth on its elliptical orbit on August 31st.
While the distance to Earth was 357,500 kilometers on Tuesday, on August 31 the distance will be another 200 kilometers less. On average, the distance between the earth and the moon is around 363,300 kilometers. Because of the small distance one speaks of two super moons.
Why the “Blue Moon” isn’t blue
The fact that our Trabant appears different in size depending on its position in the sky when looking into the night sky is mostly due to an optical illusion. If there is a reference point for the eye such as a building, a tower or the horizon, the full moon appears particularly large. In fact, the moon appears up to 15 percent larger at its closest point than at the farthest point of its orbit. Our satellite also shines 30 percent brighter as a super moon, since the surface can reflect more sunlight. A special effect on the ebb and flow, for example, is not to be feared due to the close approach of the moon to the earth. At best, sleepwalkers could become particularly restless during these nights.
If there is a second full moon in a month like on August 31, this is also known as a “blue moon”. The term has its origins in the United States and was coined by farmers to designate a fourth full moon in the quarter. Three already had their fixed names. In the course of a misunderstanding, the meaning then changed: the American amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett (1886 to 1955) misinterpreted the former regulation in 1946. In an article for Sky & Telescope magazine, he referred to “blue moon” as the second full moon in a calendar month.
Sibylle Anderl Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 10 Ulf von Rauchhaupt Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 5 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 16
Since such a full moon event occurs only rarely – on average only every two and a half years – the expression “once in a blue moon” became established in English, which means something like “once in the jubilee year”. The next time you can marvel at a “Blue Moon” is on May 31, 2026. Incidentally, February with its 28 or 29 days is the only month in which there are no two full moons and therefore no blue moon.
It is not clear why the phenomenon is described with the adjective “blue”. In any case, the moon hardly ever appears blue. Only in very rare cases can the atmosphere temporarily change as a result of volcanic eruptions or forest fires in such a way that the moon gets a slightly bluish tinge.
#blue #moon #imminent #Germany #August